Inside-outside glue lap unit

ABSTRACT

A gluing unit for inside and outside glue laps is constructed with a single glue wheel on a frame mounted for vertical movement to selectively position the glue wheel above and below a sheet feeding path. The frame is also pivotable 180* about a vertical axis, so that the peripheral portion of the glue wheel which engages the sheet material moves in the same direction as the sheet material regardless of whether the glue wheel is applying glue to the upper or lower surface of the sheet. A single doctor means and a single glue nozzle, directing glue against the glue wheel periphery, are provided together with a single glue outlet in the movable frame.

I United States Patent [72] Inventor Albert 1''. Shields Forest Hills, N.Y. [2]) Appl. No. 884,904 [22] Filed Dec. 15, 1969 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] Assignee S 8: S Corrugated Paper Machinery Co.,

Inc. Brooklyn, N.Y.

[54] INSIDE-OUTSIDE GLUE LAP UNIT 12 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 118/249 [51] Int. Cl B05c H08 [50] Field of Search 118/249, 230, 244, 250, 261

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,062,179 11/1962 Lopez I 118/250 3,068,837 12/1962 Shields 4. 3,245,379 4/1966 Lopez Primary ExaminerLouis K. Rimrodt Allomey0strolenk, Faber, Gerb and Soffen ABSTRACT: A gluing unit for inside and outside glue laps is constructed with a single glue wheel on a frame mounted for vertical movement to selectively position the glue wheel above and below a sheet feeding path. The frame is also pivotable 180 about a vertical axis, so that the peripheral portion of the glue wheel which engages the sheet material moves in the same direction as the sheet material regardless of whether the glue wheel is applying glue to the upper or lower surface of the sheet. A single doctor means and a single glue nozzle, directing glue against the glue wheel periphery, are provided together with a single glue outlet in the movable frame.

PATENTED JUL 1 3 |97| SHEET 1 [IF v INVENTOR. 415.527 5,4754;

PATENIEU JUL 1 3 I971 SHEET 3 UF 6 PATENTEDJULISIQYI 3,592,162

SHEET 5 UF 6 v KTWEVM INSIDE-OUTSIDE GLUE LAP UNIT This invention relates to gluing units in general and more particularly relates to a gluing unit in which a single glue wheel and a single doctor means is utilized for both inside and outside glue laps.

Folding machines for producing folded tubular boxes having glue laps must be flexible enough to produce boxes with either inside or outside glue laps. For a typical machine which folds the outboard panels upward, glue is applied to the bottom of the blank in order to produce an inside glue lap'and glue is applied to the top of the blank in order to produce an outside glue lap.

To provide the requisite flexibilityfor prior art folding machines, different glue units were often used depending upon whether the box was to have an inside or outside glue lap. The F. A. Connolly U. 5. Pat. No. 2,902,000, issued Sept. l, 1959, for a Glue Head for Corrugated Board Box Folding Machine, illustrates two different, though similarly constructed, glue heads for inside and outside glue laps.

Prior art attempts at utilizing a single glue head for both in side and outside glue laps have resulted in devices which presented numerous operating problems, especially when changing from the production of one type of glue lap to the production of the other type of glue lap. One prior art dual purpose glue head utilized two rollers having interchangeable functions depending upon which type of glue lap was .being produced. This type of unit required individual doctoring means for each of the rollers and individual glueinlets and outlets associated with each of the rollers. This resulted in a structure where extensive cleanup was required whenever production was changed between inside and outside glue-.laps. Further, since both wheels had to be capable of operating as glue wheels, extensive amounts of glue transferred to the pressure wheel when the lap was out of contact with the glue wheel. Unfortunately, the extensive amount of glue transferred to the pressure wheel was re-transferred to the wrong side of the next glue lap, and in many instance caused imperfections in the boxes produces.

To overcome these difficulties of prior art constructions, the instant invention provides a glue unit having a single gluing wheel, a single doctoring means for the gluing wheel, a single nozzle for applying glue to the gluing wheel, a single glue return outlet, and a pair of pressure guides, one above and the other below the gluing wheel. Each of the pressure guides includes a wheel having multiple annular knife edge portions at the periphery thereof to minimize unwanted deposition of glue. When operation of the apparatus is switched over from one type of glue lap to the other, the gluing unit is merely rotated 180 about a vertical axis and is either raised or lowered as required so that the desired upper or lower edge portion of the gluing wheel engages the glue lap.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a novel gluing unit for both inside and outside glue laps.

Another object is to provide an inside-outside gluing unit having a single gluing wheel and a pair of knifelike depressor guides.

Still another object is to provide an inside-outside gluing unit provided with a single gluing wheel that always rotates in the same direction relative to the movable frame to which the gluing wheel is mounted and the unit includes a gluing head drive motor mounted to the movable frame.

A further object is to provide an inside-outside glue unit with a single glue applicator system.

These objects as well as other objects of this invention will become readily apparent after reading thefollowing description ofthe accompanying drawing in which:

FIGv I is a perspective of a gluing unit constructed in accordance with teachings ofthe instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective showing the gluing unit of FIG. I, with the blue wheel rotated approximately -I 80.-about a vertical axis.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the gluing unit, looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end view looking inthe direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross section taken through line 5-5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of arrows 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a plan view with the unit positioned as in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken through line 7-7 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of arrow 7-7.

FIG. 8 is a cross section of the doctor means and glue supply system, with the elements thereof shown rotated about a vertical axis from the position shown in'FlG. 3. FIG. 8 is also a cross'section taken through line 8-8 'of'FIG. 9, looking in the direction of arrows 8-8.

FIG. 9 is a-plan view looking in the direction of arrows 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation, in schematic form, showing engagement ment of the glue wheel and a box blank passing below the glue wheel.

FIG. 11 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrows 11-11 of'FIG. 10.

FIG. '12 is a view similar to FIG. 10 with the blank passing above the glue wheel.

Now referring to the Figures. The gluing unit, indicated generally by reference numeral 15, is shown mounted to relatively stationary though horizontally adjustable frame member 16 of a so-called folder-gluer (not shown) which transforms flat box blanks into folded tubular boxes having glued joints. In particular, unit 15 includes vertical frame 17, fixedly secured to support 16. C-shaped vertically adjustable frame part 18 is mounted on lead screw 19, so as to be movable along the length thereof as the latter is rotated.

As seen in FIG. 7, guide 21 secured to frame 17cooperates therewith to form keying or guide recess 22 which receives gibs 23, near the upper and lower ends of frame 18, to stabilize frame 18 during rotation of lead screw 19. Follower nut 24 at the. upper end of frame member '18 threadably engages the screw 19 so that upon rotation of the latter frame 18 moves along the length of screw 19. Hand wheel 26, extending from bevel gear transmission housing 27 supported on bracket 28 at the upper end of frame 17, is rotated manually to turned lead screw 19.

Pin 31 FIG. 7) extending horizontally through frame member 18 is biased by spring 32 toward frame member 17, with tip 32 thereof entering indexing notches (not shown) in member 21 to lock frame member 18 in its raised and lowered positions for reasons to be hereinafter explained. Crank 34 at the outer end -of member 31 is manually engageable to withdraw tip 33 from the indexing recesses when frame 18 is to be moved.

Movable frame 35 is mounted between the horizontal arms of frame element 18 and is pivotable relative thereto on a vertical axis defined by stub shafts 37, 38. This pivotal movement is limited to essentially 180 through the cooperation of pins 41, 41, extending upwardly from frame member 18.(See FIG. 6), and pin 39 extending horizontally from stub shaft 37. Frame 35 is maintained in its extreme adjusted positions by .downwardlybiased pin 42, mounted to the upper arm of frame element 18. The lower end of pin 42 is positioned to enterindexing recesses 43, 44 in the upper surface of frame member 35. Knob 45 at the upper end of pin 42 is manually engageable to withdraw pin 42 from recesses 43, 44 to permit pivoting of frame 35. Pin 42'at the bottom of frame 35, cooperates with indexing recesses 43' 44' in the lower arm of C-shaped frame element 18 in the same manner as pin 42 cooperates with indexing recesses 43, 44.

Horizontal shaft 46, rotatable in bearings 47 secured to frame 35,. provides the rotatable support for glue wheel 50. Shaft 46 is rotated by unidirectional electric motor '48 mounted to frame 35. Pulley 51, keyed to motoroutput shaft 49, drives a pair of belts 52 engaged with pulley 53 keyed to shaft 46. Cover 54, removably mounted to frame35, encloses belts 52, 52 and pulleys 51and53.

. Lower pressure guide means, indicated generally by reference numeral 70 in FIG. 3, includes arm pivotally mounted on one end by stub shaft 52. The other end of arm 51 is biased upwardly by coiled compression spring 53 wound about screw 54. The latter extends through a threaded aperture in ledge 55 of frame 35, with the upper end of screw 54 extending through a clearance aperture at the end of arm SI remote from pivot 52 and cap 56 at the upper end of screw 54 maintaining arm 51 in operative engagement with screw 54 Thus, arm-51 is biased in a counterclockwisedirection with respectto FIG. 3 about shaft 52 as a center. At a point intermediate the ends thereof arm 51 carries stub shaft 57 which rotatably mounts pressure wheel 58. As is best seen in FIG. 5, pressure wheel 58 is constructed with a plurality of annular knifelike projections along the peripheral edge thereof, with these projections being positioned opposite 54. the periphery of glue wheel 50, to depress and guide glue laps to engage.

Horizontally extending guide rod 59 is mounted to arm 51 along the upper edge thereof. Downtumed leading edge 59a of guide rod 59 cooperates with upturned formation 59b in guide 61a, secured to frame 35 to form wide-mouthed guide opening 59c, which directs the glue lap portion of box blank meral 60 of FIG..l is of essentially the same construction as depressor guide 70. In particular, spring 69 biases arm 61 in a clockwise direction with respect to FIG. 1 about pivot shaft 62, thereby biasing-knife-edged depressor wheel 63 downward toward the periphery of glue wheel 50 in the upper portion thereof. The upturned leading end 640 of horizontally extendinglguide rod 64 mounted along the lower edge of arm 6] cooperates with downturned formation 64b of removable cover 65 over glue wheel 50 to form wide-mouth opening 64c to guide the glue laps of. box blanks between glue wheel 50 and depressor wheel 63 when glue is to be applied to the outside of the box blank for formation of an inside glue lap (Note that the application of top surface glue forms an outside glue lap).

As best seen in FIGURES Sand 9, glue inlet tube 71 is connected to elbow 72 extending from an opening in the end of glue pot 89. Angled tube 73 on the insideof glue pot 89 is connected at its upper end to elbow 72 and at its lower end supports wide-mouthed nozzle 74, extending to a point adjacent I to the periphery of gluewheel and immediately above the lower end of blade 75 cooperates with downwardly inclined surface 76 of glue pot 89 to form a runoff which directs excess glue through outlet fitting 77 connected topot 89 and return tube 78. Glue pot 89 is pivotally mounted to frame 35 on the inner ends of pins79, 79. Each pin 79 is biased inwardly by an individual coil compression spring 81 and is retractable to permit dismounting of doctor blade 75.

The position of doctor blade 75 is adjusted by rotating shaft 82, using crank handle 83. The ends of shaft 82 are supported by spaced sections of frame 35. The enlarged central section 84 of shaft 82 is eccentric with respect to the end portions thereof and extends through closely fitted apertures in the bifurcated arm of glue pot 89. Thus, as shaft 82 is rotated by moving crank 83, glue pot 89 rocks about pins 79 as a center to adjust the position of doctor blade 75 with respect to the periphery of glue wheel 50. Threaded portion 86 at the end of shaft 82 is engaged by nut 87 to lock shaft 82 in its adjusted "angular position. Crank 87 operates nut 86.

' When gluedevice 15 is to be operated for production of outside glue laps, frame 18 is operated to its raised position by rotation of lead screw 19. In this raised position, glue wheel 50 is positioned to apply glue to the upper surface of glue lap 600 (See FIG. 10 and 11). When glue unit 15 is to be used for applying glue to the lower surface of glue lap 60a, lead screw I9 is rotated to move frame 18 to its lower position in which the feed path for blank 60 is above glue wheel 50 as in FIG. 12. It is noted that with blank 60 moving to the right with respect to FIG. II and 12, glue wheel 50 must'appear to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to produce outside glue laps as in FIG. 10 and l l, and must appear to rotate in the opposite direction, as 'in FIG. 12, to produce outside glue laps. This apparent reversal of rotation for glue wheel 50 is achieved, without reversing direction or rotation for motor 48, by merely pivoting frame 35 with respect to frame element 18 about the vertical axis defined by pins 37, 38.

It is noted that this vertical axis extends through the rota tional axis 46 of glue wheel 50 and also extends through a vertical plane positioned midway between the outer surfaces of glue wheel 50.

While gluing unit 15 has been illustrated and described as including a pair of depressor guides 60, 70, as a practical matter, only a single depressor guide or single one of the depressor wheels 58, 63 may be furnished as part of the gluing unit. Under such circumstances each time the type of lap (inside or outside) being produced is changed, the position of the depressor guide or depressor wheel alone, as the case may be, is repositioned appropriately either above or below glue wheel 50.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides an insideoutside gluing unit with a single glue wheel, a single doctor blade, and a single system to apply glue to theglue wheel. In addition the gluing unit includes knife edge type depressors for directing sheet material against the glue wheel. 1

Although there have been described preferred embodiments of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in whichan exclusive privilege or property I claim are defined as follows. I

l. A gluing unit for inside and outside glue laps; said unit including a frame; a single glue wheel rotatable mounted on said frame; a single glue doctor means mounted to'said frame and operatively positioned with respect to the periphery of said glue wheel to regulate glue film thickness thereon; first mounting means for operatively positioning a pressure means above said glue wheel for maintaining sheet material being moved above said glue wheel in glue transferring engagement with a first peripheral portion of said glue wheel; second mounting means for operatively positioning a means below said glue wheel for maintaining sheet material being moved below said glue wheel in glue transferring engagement with a second peripheral portion of said glue wheel; means for applying glue to the periphery of said glue roll at a location such that only doctored portions of said periphery pass opposite pressure means operatively positioned by said first and said second mounting means; a relatively fixed support to which said frame is movably mounted for operation between a raised and alowered position; with said frame in said lowered position pressure means operatively positioned by said first mounting means being on a level with a feed path for sheet material engaged from below by said glue wheel, with said frame in said raised position pressure means operatively positioned by said second mounting means being on a level with said feed path, and pressure means operatively positioned by at least one of said first and said second mounting means.

2. A gluing unit as set forth claim 1, in which the frame is also movable horizontally with respect to said support between first and second positions; with said frame in its said first and said lowered positions said first peripheral portion moving in a first direction and with said frame in its said second and said raised positions said second peripheral portion of said glue wheel also moving in said first direction, whereby said gluing unit may be used for inside and outside glue laps. j

4 3. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 2, in which said support includes means defining a vertical axis about which said frame is pivotally movable to said first and said second positions; said vertical axis extending through said glue wheel and its center of rotation.

4. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said pressure means includes a knife-edge type depressor.

5. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 4, in which said knifeedge type depressor includes a wheel with a plurality of annular knifelike formations along the periphery thereof.

6. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which there is a glue pot into which said glue wheel extends, said means for applying glue to said periphery comprises a single inlet to said glue pot, said glue pot having a single outlet for runoff of excess glue.

7. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which there is a unidirectional motor mounted to said frame and a driving connection from said motor to said gluing wheel.

8. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which the periphery of said gluing wheel is engraved.

9. A gluing unit as set forth in claim I, in which said doctor means includes a doctor blade metering means.

10. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said frame includes means defining a single mounting position for said doctor means; said last recited means including a portion permitting limited adjustment of said doctor means relative to said glue wheel.

11. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 10, in which the frame is also movable horizontally with respect to said support between first and second positions; with said frame in its said first and said lowered positions said first peripheral portion moving in a first direction and with said frame in its said second and said raised positions said second peripheral portion of said glue wheel also moving in said first direction, whereby said gluing unit may be used selectively for inside and outside glue laps.

12. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 11, in which said support includes means defining a vertical axis about which said frame is pivotally movable to said first and said second positions; said vertical axis extending through said glue wheel and its center of rotation.

33 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,592,162 Dated UlY 13, 1971 Invent0r(s Albert P. Shields It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In Column 2, line 4, "1" should be --3-- In Column 4, line 47, after "a" and before "means" insert --pre5sure-- Signed and sealed this 19th day of September 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHE2R,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A gluing unit for inside and outside glue laps; said unit including a frame; a single glue wheel rotatable mounted on said frame; a single glue doctor means mounted to said frame and operatively positioned with respect to the periphery of said glue wheel to regUlate glue film thickness thereon; first mounting means for operatively positioning a pressure means above said glue wheel for maintaining sheet material being moved above said glue wheel in glue transferring engagement with a first peripheral portion of said glue wheel; second mounting means for operatively positioning a means below said glue wheel for maintaining sheet material being moved below said glue wheel in glue transferring engagement with a second peripheral portion of said glue wheel; means for applying glue to the periphery of said glue roll at a location such that only doctored portions of said periphery pass opposite pressure means operatively positioned by said first and said second mounting means; a relatively fixed support to which said frame is movably mounted for operation between a raised and a lowered position; with said frame in said lowered position pressure means operatively positioned by said first mounting means being on a level with a feed path for sheet material engaged from below by said glue wheel, with said frame in said raised position pressure means operatively positioned by said second mounting means being on a level with said feed path, and pressure means operatively positioned by at least one of said first and said second mounting means.
 2. A gluing unit as set forth claim 1, in which the frame is also movable horizontally with respect to said support between first and second positions; with said frame in its said first and said lowered positions said first peripheral portion moving in a first direction and with said frame in its said second and said raised positions said second peripheral portion of said glue wheel also moving in said first direction, whereby said gluing unit may be used for inside and outside glue laps.
 3. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 2, in which said support includes means defining a vertical axis about which said frame is pivotally movable to said first and said second positions; said vertical axis extending through said glue wheel and its center of rotation.
 4. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said pressure means includes a knife-edge type depressor.
 5. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 4, in which said knife-edge type depressor includes a wheel with a plurality of annular knifelike formations along the periphery thereof.
 6. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which there is a glue pot into which said glue wheel extends, said means for applying glue to said periphery comprises a single inlet to said glue pot, said glue pot having a single outlet for runoff of excess glue.
 7. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which there is a unidirectional motor mounted to said frame and a driving connection from said motor to said gluing wheel.
 8. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which the periphery of said gluing wheel is engraved.
 9. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said doctor means includes a doctor blade metering means.
 10. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 1, in which said frame includes means defining a single mounting position for said doctor means; said last recited means including a portion permitting limited adjustment of said doctor means relative to said glue wheel.
 11. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 10, in which the frame is also movable horizontally with respect to said support between first and second positions; with said frame in its said first and said lowered positions said first peripheral portion moving in a first direction and with said frame in its said second and said raised positions said second peripheral portion of said glue wheel also moving in said first direction, whereby said gluing unit may be used selectively for inside and outside glue laps.
 12. A gluing unit as set forth in claim 11, in which said support includes means defining a vertical axis about which said frame is pivotally movable to said first and said second positions; said vertical axis extending through said glue wheel and its center of rotatioN. 